Self-cleaning gas safety tank



Jam l, 1952 J. D. HoLLcRoFT v 2,580,547

SELF-CLEANING GAS SAFETY TANK Filed DSG. 27, 1946 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Jan.1, 1952 J. D. HoLLcRoF-r SELF-CLEANING GAS SAFETY TANK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2Filed Dec. 27, 1946 Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICESELF-CLEANIN G GAS SAFETY TANK Joseph D. Hollcrcft, Kermit, Tex.

Application December 27, 1946, Serial No. 718,768

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in storage tanksand more particularly and specifically to self-cleaning gas safety tanksof which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of astorage tank for oil or the like which is provided with a new andimproved internal means for cleaning and removing basic sediments andsludge from the bottom of the tank without disturbing or involving theclean p oil or fluid stored therein.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tank cleaningmeans which is completely and wholly operated from without the tank toclean and drain the undesirable elements therefrom with the cleaning anddraining operation being carried on completely within the tank withoutthe necessity of opening and draining the operation.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a safe andaccurate gauging means for the tank which is so constructed as toeliminate the possibility of a gaseous discharge from the tank onto theperson opening the tank for gauging purposes.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of a tank andapparatus therefor which is of extremely simple and inexpensive designand which is durable and long lasting in use.

Still further improvements and advantages of this invention will readilyappear to those skilled in the art when the following description isread in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the tank.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial section o1.' cleaning supply line.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate thepreferred embodiment of top 2. A vertical vent pipe 1 opening theinterior of the tank outwardly through the top 2 is provided at onepoint in the top to pass off the gases caused by the evaporation of thecontents of the tank and to allow an air escape when the tank is beinglled.

A pivoted hatch cover 8 is hinged vat the top center of the tank top ina covering position over a hatch 9 extending downwardly into said tank,and a standard vertical rung ladder I0 is secured within said hatch toextend downwardly to be supported at itsv base in a centered position onthe cone-like bottom 3 of the tank.

An elongated hollow gauge tube Il is secured downwardly through the top2 of the tank to extend vertically downward within said tank, at aspaced distance inward from the wall thereof, to a spaced distance abovethebottom of said tank.

The bottom of the tube I I is open while the top is provided with a,hinged cover I2 thereon without the top of said tank. This tube allowsfor the gauging of the depth of the oil within said tank withoutallowing a discharge of gases through said tube whose lower end isimmersed in oil preventing the entrance of such gases thereinto, andsaid tube being adjacent one wall of said tank provides for a gauging ofthe good oil in the tank without including the depth of the basicsediments and sludge which form and collect in the depending centerinward from beneath the open end of the tube.

An inlet pipe line I3 for air, gas, `water or the like enters the tankat one point in the joint of said tank and tank bottom where it meets acircular pipe I4 which lies flush with the outer circumference of thecone bottom concentric therewith. This circular pipe is provided with aplurality of spaced alternate length extensions I5 which radiate inwardtherefrom toward the center of the cone bottom being in an adjacentdownhill position therewith. The inward end of these extensions I5 areprovided with nozzlelike openings I6 adapted to direct a streamdischarge therethrough of the uent material admitted through said inletpipe under pressure thus forming a swirling vortex about the center ofthe cone bottom 3 causing a loosening and ushing of the basic sedimentand sludge therein which drains downwardly to the center thereof and outthrough a drainpipe II opening upwardly in the center of the tankbottom.

A cone plate or baie I8 is secured horizontally to the lower end of theladder I il as at I9 at spaced distance above the center of the tankbottom. The outer edge of this cone plate I8 3 extends beyond the innerend of the longest of the extensions l5 and act to prevent the vortexfrom penetrating upwardly through the basic sediment into the good oilor the like thereabove and thus preventing the wasteful drainagethereof.

Thus it may be seen that a storage tank with an improved cleaning andsafe and accurate gauging meanshas been provided.

Having thus described and "explained the construction and operation ofthis invention and with full belief that modifications in size,materials and general characteristics, would not constitute a departurefrom the 'Spirit of this invention what I desire to claim in LettersPatent 1. A tank for storing crude il br the like coinprising a bottomin the form of an inverted cone, an upstanding Wall super-imposed uponsaid ur'd thereto, l a horizontally e positioned within said adia nttoand spaced from Ythe iid thereo `and ie'sting'rupon said com, v 'endextending through said g Wall and eoriiiecteid to said circular gfluidunder pressure to the ality of pipes 'arranged at an to land within saidcircular in aqii spa d 'felation 'about the inner-periph.- "e`ry of'said Vcircular pipe and resting upon said inverted cone, the other endsof said plurality f pipes being 'each provided with 'a nozzle and spacedffrji the apex of said inverted cone, a 'di-'ain pif' eexteiioriy' fsaid inverted cone and having one end coiinected to' the apex of saidcone for withdrawing Sediirilif; Suspension fluid fr'oin said tank, anda iixed conically shaped bailie positioned within` said circular pipeand in align ent with the apex of said inverted cone the having itsbounding edge spaced from in@ pini-amy jf pipes. Y

2.` `A tank i storing crude Ioil or the like comprisin'g bottrn in theform of an inverted 4 cone, anV upstanding wall superimposed upon saidinverted cone and secured thereto, a horizontally disposed circular pipepositioned within said inverted cone adjacent to and spaced from theupper end thereof and resting upon said cone, a pipe having one endextending through said upstanding wall and connectedI to said circularpipe for delivering fluid under pressure to the latter pipe, apluralityof pipes arranged at an angle ,with respect to an'dwithin saidcircular pipe and each having one end connected to said circular pipe,said plurality of pipes extending in radial spaced relation about theinner-periphery of said circular pipe and resting upon saidinvertedcone, the other end of said plurality of pipes being eachprovided with a nozzle and spaced 'froni the apex of said inverted cone,some of said plurality of pipes being shorter in length than other ofsaid plurality of pipes, a drain pipeexteriorly of `said inverted coneand having one 'end connected to the apex 'of sa'ic'l c'o'e forwithdrawing sediment suspension iiuid from said tank, 'and a fixedconically 'shaped baffle positionedivithin said circular pipe and in'alignment with the apex of said inverted cone and having its boundingedge spaced above Asaid nozzles.

JOSEPH D. HOLLCROFT.

REFERENCES CITED v lThe following references 'are of rcord in trie fileof this* patent: l n

UNITED STATES PATENTS

